Broadcom on Tuesday reduced the number of seats it’s seeking on Qualcomm’s Board of Directors from 11 to six as its hostile takeover bid advances ahead of Qualcomm’s March 6 annual shareholder meeting.

If all six of Broadcom’s proposed alternative directors are elected by Qualcomm’s shareholders, Broadcom would achieve majority control of the board to push through a proposed $121 billion merger, which would be the largest ever in tech.

Broadcom had sought to replace all 11 members of Qualcomm board. It nominated alternative candidates, many of whom had ties to Broadcom’s private equity backer Silver Lake Partners or tech companies that Broadcom had previously acquired.

Qualcomm argued that Broadcom’s candidates, if elected, would be running the company during a lengthy regulatory review by global competition regulators that could take as long as 18 months.

During that time, they would be conflicted by a charge to sell the company rather than take steps to increase its value — especially during the important mobile industry transition to fast 5G networks, according to Qualcomm.

Broadcom contends regulatory review can be completed in 12 months and has offered an $8 billion break-up fee should regulators block the deal.

In a statement, Broadcom Chief Executive Hock Tan said Qualcomm shareholders have expressed support for its $82 per share cash and stock offer, which he says is Broadcom’s “best and final” price.

“In addition, they have welcomed our willingness to provide for appropriate continuity on the Qualcomm board, and have also expressed a desire for a definitive mechanism of achieving such continuity,” said Tan. “Reducing the number of nominees we are seeking to a simple majority provides precisely that mechanism.”

Qualcomm did not respond for a request for comment.

Tan reiterated that he will withdraw the $82 per share offer if the companies fail to reach a merger agreement by March 6, or if his six candidates are not elected by Qualcomm shareholders.

Qualcomm’s board of directors is scheduled to meet with Tan and Broadcom officials on Wednesday.

Broadcom’s six nominees are: Samih Elhage, formerly of Nokia; David Golden, former investment banker at J.P. Morgan; Veronica Hagen, retired CEO of Polymer Group; Julie Hill, owner of The Hill Co.; John Kispert of Black Diamond Ventures and Harry You, a former executive with EMC Corp.

Qualcomm’s shares dipped 26 cents to $65.40 in early trading Tuesday. Broadcom shares were also were down a less than 1 percent at $242.22. Both stocks trade on the Nasdaq.

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